CLASSIFYING ORGANISMS
1.Classification is the process of grouping things based on their similarities.
2. Classification systems are always based on observable characteristics (characteristics you can observe through your senses).
• Biologists use classification to organize living things into groups so that the organisms are easier to study.
3.Taxonomy is the scientific study of how living things are classified.
4.A taxonomist is a scientist who classifies living things.
Why do scientists classify?
Classification systems organize living things in a logical, and meaningful way. This makes the study of living things easier.
• Biologists have identified more than 2.5 million different types of living things to date.
•Some estimate that there may be at least another 7 million different kinds of organisms living in tropical rain forests and deep in the oceans that have not yet been discovered.
5.To bring order to this great diversity of living things, we call BIODIVERSITY, biologists have developed systems of classification.
Early Classification Systems
1. Grouped organisms as to whether they were beneficial or harmful
2. Recognized 5 animal groups:
a. domestic b. wild c. creeping d. flying e. sea animals
6. First scientist to use a classification system was the Greek scholar, Aristotle.
Aristotle:
• 4 th century
• Greek philosopher
• Divided organisms into 2 groups –plants and animals
• Divided animals into how they moved (behavior)
a. walk, crawl, or run
b. fly
c. swim
7. Carolus Linnaeus- 1750s
• Classified organisms based on similarities in form and structure.
• Examined the organism’s internal anatomy as well as its outward structure.
Puma, Cougar, or Mountain Lion?
8.Carolus Linnaeus developed a system for naming organisms called binomial nomenclature. In this system, each organism is given a two part name, called the scientific name.
Ex. Felis concolor
Genus species(general) (specific)
Binomial nomenclature
Name consisting of two terms A system of terms
“ a system of names consisting of two terms”
A two-name naming system
Genus-species
9.The scientific name of an organism includes the genus and species.
10.The scientific name is written in Latin, because it was the language used by scientists when the naming system was invented. The language is also no longer used so it will not change and the names will also never change.
• Genus is the first part of the scientific name. It is a classification grouping that contains similar and closely related organisms.
• Example: Felis (genus) includes pumas, ocelots, and housecats.
They all share the following characteristics: sharp, retractable claws and hunting behaviors
Genus Felis
• sharp, retractable claws
• behaviors such as hunting other animals
• Species is the second part of the scientific name.
• A species is a group of similar organisms that can mate and produce fertile offspring.
• A species name often describes a distinctive feature of an organism, like its color or where it lives.
• Example: Felis concolor
concolor means “the same color” in Latin; like a puma which is all one color;
Example: Felis pardalis
paradalis means “spotted like a panther” in Latin; like an ocelot which has a spotted coat;
Felis concolor
concolor = same color coat
Felis paradalis
paradalis = spotted coat
Felis domesticus
domesticus = house cat
Species - ?
• Scientific name is written in italics or each part must be underlined.
Example: Felis concolor OR Felis concolor
• Genus is written with a capital letter
• Species is written with a lowercase letter.
• The genus is written first and the species is written after it;
• Examples
Felis domesticus = house cat
Pinus taeda = loblolly pine
Musca domestica = housefly
Ursus horribilis = grizzly bear
LEVELS OF CLASSIFICATION
• Linnaeus’ classification system uses a series of seven levels to classify organisms.
• The more classification levels that two organisms share, the more
characteristics they have in common.
• The kingdom is the broadest classification level; species is the most
specific.
The Seven Levels of Classification according to Linnaeus
1. Kingdom Kings broadest
2. Phylum Play
3. Class Cards
4. Order On
5. Family Fat
6. Genus Green
7. Species Stools most specific
Domains:
1. Archaea
2. Eubacteria (Bacteria)
3. Eukaryota (Eukarya)
The Modern Levels of Classification
1. Domain Do broadest
2. Kingdom Kings
3. Phylum Play
4. Class Cards
5. Order On
6. Family Fat
7. Genus Green
8. Species Stools most specific
DomainDomain Eukaryota (Eukarya)
great horned owl
THIS CATEGORY… IS MUCH LIKE THIS CATEGORY.
Kingdom Planet
Phylum Hemisphere
Class Continent
Order Country
Family State
Genus City
Species Street Address
Academy Road
Caldwell
What is the largest and most general level
of classification?
1.Species
2.Phylum
3.Kingdom
What is the two- part naming system
devised by Carolus Linnaeus in the 18th century ?
1. Classification
2. Binomial nomenclature
3. Dichotomous system
The science of grouping living things based on similarities is called _____.
1. classification
2. taxonomy
3. nomenclature
In the scientific name Felis concolor, “ concolor” refers to
1. genus
2. family
3. species
Which of the following is the correct form for writing the scientific name of an organism?
1. Felis Concolor
2. felis concolor
3. Felis concolor
4. Felis concolor
Prokaryotic cell – doesnot have a nucleus Eukaryotic cell- has
a nucleus
Heterotrophic – does not make its own food Autotrophic – makes
its own food
Unicellular – made up of one cell
Multicellular – made up of many cells
The Six Kingdoms of Living Things
Archaebacteria
Eubacteria
Protists
Fungi
Plants
Animals
1. Archaebacteria –”ancient bacteria” live in extreme conditions like hot springs, your intestines, in molten rock on the ocean floor; “the extremophiles”
prokaryotic; unicellular; autotrophic/heterotrophic
2.
Eubacteria – live in non-extreme conditions like your throat, in yogurt and cheeses; some are harmful, but most are helpful;
prokaryotic; unicellular; autotrophic/heterotrophic;
Protists – the “junk drawer” kingdom;
eukaryotic; unicellular/multicellular; autotrophic/ heterotrophic
